Jo Ann Gibson Robinson (President of the Women's Political Council), two students, and the chairman of the Business Department at Alabama State, mimeographed and distributed approximately 52,500 leaflets calling for a boycott of the buses to begin on December 5, the following Monday.

Rosa Parks is convicted and fined in Montgomery city court. A one-day boycott of city buses results in about 90 percent participation,
The Montgomery Improvement Association is formed by black leaders, who elect the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. president. Several thousand black citizens attend the first MIA mass meeting at Holt Street Baptist Church, where they overwhelmingly support continuing the bus boycott.

8th Dec, 1955

Negotiations begin

First negotiations between MIA leaders and Montgomery city and bus company officials deadlock over MIA proposal for a bus seating policy that is more fair to blacks, but still segregated.

13th Dec, 1955

Car Pool System begins

The MIA begings to operate a car pool system. In time, the system will grow to more than 200 private automobiles and station wagons, many of which are operated by black churches.

16th Dec, 1955

Mayor forms biracial committee to negotiate with MIA

The mayor forms a biracial committee to negotiate a compromise. The vice president of the bus company meets with MIA leaders and city and local bus officials.

19th Dec, 1955

One and only meeting of the Mayor's biracial committee

The biracial committee meets but cannot agree on a compromise; there is no other record of the committee meeting after this one time.

9th Jan, 1956

MIA leaders meet with city commissioners

MIA leaders meet with city commissioners, to no avail.

23rd Jan, 1956

Mayor announces no further negotiations

Mayor W. A. Gayle announces a tougher policy on the bus boycott, including no further negotiations with the MIA.

26th Jan, 1956

King is arrested for speeding

King is arrested for speeding and jailed by Montgomery police.

27th Jan, 1956

King decides to continue the fight against segregation

After getting a series of threatening phone calls, King reports sitting at his kitchen table late into the night considering whether to abandon the leadership of the boycott. But his resolve is strengthened by a divine voice telling him to continue the fight.

30th Jan, 1956

MIA votes to file federal lawsuit - King's home is bombed

The MIA votes to support the filing of the federal lawsuit to challenge city and state bus segregation laws. That same night King’s house is bombed with his wife and their infant daughter inside - no one is insured. King reiterates to the angry crowd that nonviolence is the only solution.

Fred D. Gray and Charles D. Langford file the Browder v. Gayle lawsuit on behalf of four female plaintiffs to challenge the constitutionality of city and state bus segregation laws. Rosa Parks is not involved in the case.

13th Feb, 1956

Grand jury investigation of whether boycott violates state law

A Montgomery circuit judge orders a grand jury investigation into whether the bus boycott violates a state boycott conspiracy law.

21st Feb, 1956

Boycott leaders indicted by grand jury with violating state law

A Montgomery County grand jury indicts about 90 bus boycott leaders, charging them with violating a state statute against boycotts without just cause.

19th Mar, 1956

King found guilty of violating state boycott law

King is found guilting of violating the state boycott conspiracy law. HIs sentence, a $500 fine or a year in jail, is delayed pending appeal. A year later that he loses his appeal and pays the fine. Other indicted MIA leaders are never tried.

28th Mar, 1956

National Deliverance Day of Prayer to support bus boycott

A National Deliverance Day of Prayer to support the bus boycott takes place. Many cities, in and outside the South, take part.

23rd Apr, 1956

Montgomery bus company orders desegregation

The U.S. Supreme Court dismisses an appeal of a July 1955 federal appeals court ruling outlawing bus segregation in South Carolina. The decision is seen by many as declaring all intrastate bus segregation unconstitutional. The bus company decides to implement a policy of desegregation.

24th Apr, 1956

Mayor orders that Montgomery segregation will continue

Bus companies in many Southern cities stop segregated bus seating in response to the Supreme Court decision. However, the Montgomery mayor declares that city bus segregation will continue and the local police threaten to arrest bus drivers who disobey segregation laws.